SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Equestrian Gallery
      • Stallions
      • Horses & Ponies for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Monday, June 11 2018 / Published in General

Everything Eventing With Boyd Martin

Boyd Martin riding Gloria Callen’s mare Welcome Shadow
Photo by Amber Heintzberger

Well known for both his fun-loving approach to life and his indefatigable work ethic, Boyd Martin has represented the U.S.A. in three-day eventing at two Olympic Games and two World Championships, and was on the gold-medal-winning Pan Am Games team in 2015. Boyd’s wife, Silva Martin, is a grand prix dressage rider and they have a son, Nox. Boyd and Silva train out of their own farm, Windurra USA in Cochranville, Pennsylvania, and spend winters at Stable View Farm in Aiken, South Carolina.

What does helmet safety mean to you personally?

I’ve had my share of knocks on the head, but more importantly my wife, Silva, sustained a traumatic brain injury in a riding accident a few years ago. Her recovery was long and intense and for me, it amplified the importance of a well-made helmet that fits. There’s absolutely no doubt that Silva’s Charles Owen helmet saved her life that day, and we both continue to wear Charles Owen helmets every time we ride. I must say there was a time when we were both pretty casual about wearing a helmet for schooling on the flat, but these days neither of us sits on a horse without a helmet, and even our son, Nox, has had his own helmet since he started sitting on a pony. Helmets vary in sizing and price points and there are affordable options out there that leave no excuse not to wear a helmet. They are also available in a variety of stylish materials for helmets, but whatever it looks like, your head is always the most important fashion accessory!

What advice do you have for adult amateurs who don’t have time to ride every day?

When you’re working a full-time job and coming home to a family, it can be hard to carve out time at the barn, especially if you board a horse away from home. Silva and I are fortunate that riding is our business and we’re now able to live on our own farm and raise our family where we work. For my clients who aren’t able to keep their horse at home, I suggest having a professional ride the horse a couple of days a week if it’s in your budget; if you can’t afford this, either find a capable friend who might like some extra riding time or consider leasing your horse out part of the time to keep him fit and schooled. When you do have time to ride, make the most of your session by focusing on where your performance needs improvement. Don’t try to make up for lack of time in the saddle by doing everything at once, or you and your horse may both end up frustrated and with sore muscles. A sore and cranky horse is not going to make the progress that you desire in your training. Try to bring something positive to each session so that you’ll both look forward to the next ride.

 Can you recommend a couple of cross-country schooling exercises for young horses?

The best way to keep young horses confident on cross-country is to keep the fences small and the schooling session relaxed and fun. Tiny logs around the field are the perfect first jumps, and you can walk, trot or canter these without putting any pressure on the horse. Go out with a more experienced horse that can give your horse a lead if you need it, and basically just play around to get the horse used to being out in the open and going over some small fences. Water jumps can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be; walk your horse through the water a few times, then trot and canter through and your horse will probably enjoy himself. You can add a small jump into the water if the horse is confident. Keep things simple and low-key and keep the pressure off, and your horse will associate jumping in the open with having fun. I take a lot of the young horses foxhunting in the fall, as it’s a great way to build their confidence. If you have access to a hunt it’s a great addition to any training program for event horses.

 

Share this page:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Tagged under: boyd-martin, eventing, q&a

What you can read next

Lillie Keenan Wins North American Junior Equitation Championship at Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend
HERO
Team Germany Cashes in the BMO Nations’ Cup

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Stallion Gallery

Visit Stallion Gallery

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • SULLIVAN TURNER TEAM
    Equestrian & Luxury Properties CISSIE SULLIVAN | TRACEY K. TURNER | DAVID MILLER (803) 998-0198 | Meybohm Real Estate SullivanTurnerTeam.com

    [Read more]

  • Marysue Jacobs Broker
    Top Producer Destiny International Properties Wellington, Palm Beach and surrounding areas 35 yrs Experience Equestrian and Luxury Estates 561-758-5212 24 hours a day

    [Read more]

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • “Jump for the Children” Benefit Horse Show Celebrates 40 Years & Over $3 Million to Duke Children’s
  • Woodside Recognizes the Best in the West
  • Get More for Your Money with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Dr. Hannah Dodson & Leadline Wellness: Leading Others to Better Lives
  • Emily Wygod Bushnell: An Endeavor to Change Lives
  • Dr. Stephanie Davis: Life as a Veterinarian, Entrepreneur and Mother

Category

Recent Posts

  • Dr. Hannah Dodson & Leadline Wellness: Leading Others to Better Lives

    By Britney Grover Dr. Hannah Dodson has devoted...
  • Emily Wygod Bushnell: An Endeavor to Change Lives

    By Britney Grover Emily Wygod Bushnell grew up ...
  • Dr. Stephanie Davis: Life as a Veterinarian, Entrepreneur and Mother

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Kelly Mudd When ...
  • Cameron Trimino: Feeling the Spark

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Sara Shier As Ca...
  • Lia Screnci: In Her Happy Place

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Mellisa Fuller G...

Copyright © 1987 - 2025  Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!